A teaching body in Northern Ireland has been branded a "shambles" by SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan.
It was reported on Friday that up to 500 new teachers have not yet had their registrations fully processed by the General Teaching Council of Northern Ireland.
Executives of the GTCNI appeared in front of the Stormont Education Committee earlier this year after issues around child safeguarding were identified in the organisation.
McCrossan suggested that the body, which is used for the regulation of the teaching profession, may be beyond repair.
In a statement, Mr McCrossan said: “When the GCTNI appeared before the Education Committee in May it became clear it was riddled with dysfunction and I expressed the view then that this body is beyond repair.
“We have heard time and time again how it has disintegrated into a shambles.
“At that point, there were issues around child safeguarding. Today’s announcement confirms my view that they cannot perform their duties to the standard required.
The SDLP MLA also added Education Minister Michelle McIlveen needed to take responsibility for the situation.
He said: “What’s worse is successive Education Ministers have been aware of the problems within the GTCNI and have failed to act decisively.
“Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has called on them to resolve the matter quickly. She needs to ensure they get it sorted herself so that hundreds of teachers are not prevented from working next year.
“Minister McIlveen needs to take some responsibility instead of relying on a body that has shown itself entirely unfit for purpose.”
The BBC reported as many as 500 teachers have yet to have their registrations processed for this year, with the GTCNI saying it was working to address the problem.
"Invoices for payment of registration fees are being issued this week (to new qualified teachers who graduated from Northern Ireland higher education institutions) who will receive confirmation of registration once payment is made online," the GTCNI said in a statement to the BBC.
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